Magnetic closer for electric railways



N0. 618,!62. v Patented Jan. 24, I899. W. M. BROWN.

MAGNETIC CLOSER FOR ELECTRIC BAILWAYS.

(Application filed Aug. 27, 189B.)

W/TNESSES" lNVENTGH Urrn TATns PATENT Trice,

'WILLIAM MILT. BROXVN, OF JOHNSTONTN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LORAIN STEEL COMPANY, OF OHIO.

MAGNETEC CLOSER FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

.SPEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,162, dated January 24, 1899.

Application filed August 27,1898.

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ILLIAM MILT. BROWN, of Johnstown, in the county of Oambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Magnetic Closers,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in magnetic closers of the type now employed in certain electric-railway systems to actuate underground circuit-closers. In devices used for this purpose at the present I 5 time the magnetic closer generally has one or more poles extending longitudinally under the car, such poles being ordinarily in the form of a continuous metallic member. The objection to this form of construction is that there is danger of a short circuit when crossing the rails of another track. This mayoccur because of the magnet picking up from the street some magnetizable article, such as a nail, or it may occur through poor adjust- 2 5 ment of the position of the magnet or of the contact-spots, or both, thereby providing a path for the electric current directly through the magnet-pole. It has been proposed to remedy this difficulty by constructing the magnet-poles of a plurality of parts which are insulated from each other, so that a magnet-pole is provided which has a substantially continuous magnetic field throughout its length, but has not a continuous electric path. My invention relates to this latter class of magnets, and has for its object the provision of a magnet having the advantages of the single-pole magnetviz., high magnetic efficiency and staunch constructionwhile also having the advantages of the sectional-pole type; and my invention consists, broadly, in providing a continuous metallic member coated with insulating material, preferably enamel.

Myinvention also consists in forming boltholes in the continuous metallic member prior to enameling it and securing disconnected plates to the lower face by means of bolts passing through the said holes. By this construction the plates protect the enamel and continue the magnetic path. At the same Serial No. 689,655. (No model.)

time the enamel electrically separates the plates from the continuous metallic member.

Referring now to the figures in the annexed drawings, which constitute part of this speci- 5 5 fication, by which I shall more specifically describe in yin vention, Figure 1 is a side View of a magnetic closer embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal enlarged sectional view of a portion of the magnet-pole, and Fig. 3 an inverted plan view of a portion of the magnetpole. a

A metal pole A is perforated with a number of holes 1 and 1, coated with an insulating medium 3, preferably enamel, either by immersion or any manner which shall thoroughly cover the walls of the perforations. Metal plates D are then secured to the lower surface of the pole A by means of the countersunk bolts 4, which pass through the perforations 1 and are then secured by the nuts 2, which bear against washers 5. The cores B are fastened to the pole A in a suitable manner, as by threaded ends which screw into the magnetic pole.

O are energizing-coils surrounding the cores B. The metal plates D serve the purpose of being a protection to the enamel or other insulating compound and also help to complete the magnetic path.

If new the magnetpole should in operation become electrically connected with both sides of the circuit, no evil consequences would result, as owing to the enamel between the pole A and the plates 1) and between the perfora tions in the pole and the bolts at no electric current can pass.

The precise form and construction of this device may difier from this description without departing outside the scope of the ap- 9o pended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

1. A magnetic closer comprising the combination of a plurality of cores and energizing-coils for the same, a single continuous metallic pole-piece provided with perforations and coated throughout with insulating material connecting said cores, a series of disconnected metallic plates, and bolts passing through said perforations and securing said plates against the under side of the coated pole-piece.

2. A magnetic closer comprising the combination of a plurality of cores and energizing-coils for the same, a single continuous metallic pole-piece provided with perforations and coated throughout with enamel connecting said cores, a series of disconnected metallic plates, and bolts passing through said perforations and securing said plates ro against the under side of the coated polepiece. 1 In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. MILT. BROWN. Vitnesses:

RICHARD EYRE, H. W. SMITH. 

